Did you know that 15% of the global population lives with a disability that can make web browsing a challenge? That’s a huge number of potential users who might be missing out on your website’s content and offerings simply because it’s inaccessible. And it’s not just people with disabilities who benefit from accessible design. Many of the principles of website accessibility also improve the experience for non-native English speakers, those with temporary impairments, and even users in distracting environments.
On February 18th, Amy Cheng, Head of UXC at Yoghurt Digital, tackled this topic head-on in her webinar, “Are You Covering the Basics?” So, we thought we’d recap the key takeaways and insights shared, providing you with actionable steps to improve your website’s accessibility and create a genuinely inclusive online experience.
Why Website Accessibility Matters (More Than You Think)
Amy emphasised that website accessibility isn’t just a compliance checkbox; it’s about creating a welcoming and usable online space for everyone. It’s not just ethically right; it’s good business. After all, no amount of SEO wizardry or marketing magic can compensate for a website that users can’t navigate. The webinar highlighted that website accessibility is more than avoiding legal issues; it’s about expanding your reach so that everyone has equal access to your content.
Understanding Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG covers websites, applications, and other digital content. It is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). WCAG is an international standard.
There are three levels of conformance:
- Level A is the minimum level.
- Level AA includes all Level A and AA requirements. Many organisations strive to meet Level AA.
- Level AAA includes all Level A, AA, and AAA requirements.
Understanding the Core Principles of WCAG
The webinar delved into the four core principles of WCAG, explaining how they apply to each level of conformance. These principles provide a framework for creating accessible web content:
- Perceivable: This principle focuses on making sure information and user interface components are presentable to users in ways they can perceive. At the A level, this means adding alt text for images, providing video captions, and ensuring content is readable and presented logically. AA conformance adds support for different layouts (like zoom or screen readers), audio descriptions for key visual content, and sufficient colour contrast (4.5:1 ratio). The highest level, AAA, includes sign language for videos, stronger text contrast (7:1 ratio), and allowing users to adjust text spacing, line height, and font size. Background audio should also be controllable.
- Operable: This principle addresses whether users can navigate and interact with the interface. Level A requires all functionality to be operable through a keyboard, enough time for tasks (or adjustable time limits), no flashing content, and easy-to-click areas. AA conformance adds clear focus indicators, the ability to pause, stop, or hide animations, and consistent navigation. AAA includes customisable keyboard shortcuts, removal of time limits, review and confirm functionality before submitting forms, and ensuring tasks don’t require specific physical actions.
- Understandable: This principle is about making functionality, copy and content easy to grasp. At the A level, this means clear writing (Flesch-Kincaid Grade 8-10), predictable navigation, and basic error messages. AA requires even clearer writing (Grade 6-8), error message suggestions, consistent navigation across pages, and easy-to-follow form instructions. AAA conformance calls for the simplest writing (Grade 3-6), dropdowns or limits to prevent mistakes, explanations of difficult words, and sitemaps.
- Robust: This principle ensures content works reliably across different technologies, including assistive devices. Level A requires clean, valid HTML and CSS and basic functionality with assistive tools. AA adds testing of key features with screen readers and clear definitions of interactive element purposes in the code. AAA conformance emphasises adherence to standards and best practices for future technology changes and seamless functionality across a wide range of assistive devices.
Amy explained the three levels of WCAG conformance but emphasised that aiming for AA compliance is a great starting point for most organisations.
Testing and Optimising for Website Accessibility
The webinar also covered how to test and optimise accessible designs, including A/B testing methodologies for accessibility changes. She highlighted the importance of user testing with people with disabilities. She also discussed when to implement website accessibility changes directly (legal requirement, high benefit/low risk) and when to test them first (potential impact on all users, need for stakeholder buy-in).
The Basics Covered
Amy’s webinar, “Are You Covering the Basics?” focused on the fundamental elements of website accessibility, emphasising that a solid foundation is crucial for creating truly inclusive online experiences. She highlighted the following key areas:
- Perceivable Content:
- Strong Colour Contrast
- Descriptive Alt Text for Images
- Captions for Video Content
- Operable Interface:
- Clear and Easy Navigation
- Easy-to-Click Areas
- Full Keyboard Navigation Support
- Secure Logout Timers
- Review-Before-Commit Functionality
- Understandable Content:
- Readable Content (Grades 3-10)
- Clear Form Error Messages
- Prominent and Understandable Pricing Displays
- Robust Design:
- Screen Reader Compatibility
- Responsive Design
- Clear Status Updates
Key Takeaways and Actionable Steps:
Accessibility is not just a technical issue; it’s a user experience issue.
WCAG provides a framework for creating accessible websites.
- Start by addressing common accessibility issues.
- Test your website with users of all abilities.
- Prioritise AA compliance, as above, as a starting point.
- Gather data, create hypotheses, define clear goals, and use user-focused designs when optimising for accessibility.
Watch the webinar recording here.
Yoghurt Digital as Your Partner in Inclusive Design
At Yoghurt Digital, we believe in creating digital experiences that are accessible to everyone. Our UXC team, led by Amy Cheng, has extensive experience in designing and developing accessible websites. We can help you navigate the complexities of web accessibility and ensure that your website is inclusive and user-friendly for all.
Ready to make your website more accessible? Contact us today to learn more and get a consultation with Amy, Head of UXC.